Hobart resident Susan Thompson didn’t mince words when she came before the Hobart Board of Public Works on Wednesday.

“I think we are being thrown to the wolves, over money,” Thompson said.

Thompson and her husband, Vance Thompson, filed on Feb. 13 with city officials a notice of appeal in regard to a fill permit approved Feb. 5 by the Hobart Plan Commission.

The fill permit request approved was for 605 acres eyed by Amazon for a future data center referred to as Hobart Tech Park.

The Thompsons live in the 5500 block of East 73rd Avenue, which is south of the proposed data center site.

Thompson, at the board of works, said she is appealing the fill permit approval because of several reasons, including concerns about property values, safety, the status of her underground well and noise pollution.

She said residents, particularly elderly ones, are worried that they won’t be able to sell their homes at a decent price if the data center is built, and they won’t be able to afford living in a nursing home in the future.

“When you lie down at night and go to bed, think of those things. Would you want to live in that area?” Thompson said.

Thompson was just one of approximately 15 residents who on Feb. 13 filed a notice of appeal with the city, Hobart City Attorney Heather McCarthy said.

She and Hobart Clerk-Treasurer Deborah Longer said the other residents who filed a notice of appeal didn’t make the legal 48-hour deadline on Feb. 13, so their cases will be heard at a special meeting of the Hobart Plan Commission likely set for next Thursday.

The plan commission, following that special meeting, will issue a finding of facts which will be presented at the board of works meeting in March.

Dozens of residents spoke at the packed Hobart High School auditorium on Feb. 5, where the plan commission meeting was held.

The overwhelming majority at that meeting voiced their disapproval of the plan commission, citing similar concerns to those of Susan Thompson.

The plan commission at its Feb. 5 meeting voted 5-3 to approve the fill permit request from Todd Huntington of Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, who spoke briefly before the vote to answer commission questions.

Those voting against the proposal were members Stuart Allen, Lloyd Emig and Matthew SeDoris.

Those voting for the proposal were Dan Schultz, Mark Kara, Maria Galka, David Vinzant and city engineer and member Alex Metz.

The approval on Feb. 5 of the fill permit allows the moving of dirt only on the property located south of 61st Avenue, east of Colorado Street and north of 69th Avenue, said Maria Galka, who chairs the plan commission and who sits on the board of works.

The next step in the process will include the presentation of a site plan, which will include environmental impact and the presentation of other pertinent studies,  plan commission member and City Councilman Mark Kara said after the Feb. 5 meeting.

Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/19/hobart-residents-notice-of-appeal/